The Synod of the Covenant has awarded $50,000 to 11 ministries as part of its New Covenant grant program. New Covenant grants are funded from shared mission dollars received from presbyteries, who receive the money from congregations. 

The program was designed to encourage new, emerging or revitalized ministries within the bounds of the synod. Projects were required to fit within one of the three synod mission priorities: congregational transformation and development; multicultural, racial ethnic and justice ministries or ministries in higher education.

Applications are now being accepted for New Covenant Grants for 2012. Click here for more information.

The eleven 2011 New Covenant grants are:

Hagar's Community-$10,000
Michigan Black Presbyterian Charitable Organization, Detroit Presbytery

Hagar's Community is to provide individuals, children and parents, in particular, those having an incarcerated significant other. We will give them the means and opportunity of housing, social, emotional, academic and family management skills that build, strengthen and empower the development of a consistent stable foundation. We are committed to offering a path to Peace, Justice and Wholeness.

Comunidad los del Camino-5,000
Detroit Presbytery

Comunidd los del Camino (CLDC) is a new Spanish Speaking Fellowship in the Presbytery of Detroit. The project involves several components at present:

• A food pantry program where needy families are invited to receive food assistance one time per month, no string attached.
• A thrift store where community members can shop and find needed items at a reasonable cost.
• Sunday School afternoons, a time to learn more about Jesus Christ, taught from a reformed and Presbyterian perspective.
• Community gatherings where families can come together and share a meal, fellowship and Christian liturgy

The ministry aims to reach out to the fastest growing minority group in the US, Michigan, and Detroit and to bring the good news of the Gospel to a group of people that the Presbytery of Detroit has long wanted to reach but had varying degrees of success in doing so.

Faith at 8th, Faith, Friendship and Feeding-$5,000
Crestview Presbyterian Church, Scioto Valley Presbytery

Monthly feeding of the Homeless. Crestview feeds the Homeless four times a year. The cost of feeding is not in our budget. Members of the congregation donate money for the dinner. We would like to expand our feeding to monthly. With the help of this grant we could serve monthly meals, serve communion, have strawberry festivals, celebrate birthdays, give away Bibles at the Faith at 8th Shelter, where we serve the food.

New Hope for Refugees-$5,000
Korean Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Presbytery

New Hope for Refugees is designed to enhance mental stability, and personal strength of Nepali refugees in the community through a spiritual mentorship program that will focus on spiritual growth, and developing a new sense of community and citizenship. Additionally, the program will teach job related skills such as English classes and basic computer skills. Other civic and social programs will be offered such as music classes, sing-along, Tae Kwon Do and leadership training. The program will provide a strong and firm religious foundation so our new members can build a new life based upon the teachings of our Lord, and with a sense of praising God.

Together: Arts and Peace-$5,000
Fort Street Presbyterian Church, Detroit Presbytery

A two-week Peace Education day camp of children and youth from six county Presbytery area, July 9-20, 2012, with arts, nature, conflict resolution skill development and spiritual life programming. The goal is to bring them together from metro-urban communities, to experience the diversity within their inherent commonality, and to develop the maturational values of citizenship and inclusive group life, through shared fun and joyful adventures, within an exciting and challenged urban setting. 

New Beginnings: The Youth Initiative-$4,500
Heritage Presbyterian Church, Presbytery of the Western Reserve

Heritage Presbyterian Church and its New Beginnings: The Youth Initiative includes both definite goals and experimental initiatives These are as follows:

• Building a strong and sustainable Christian Education Program
• Offering a Youth Program that shall attract a growing number of young people to a well-managed, fun, educational, faithful and genuinely helping set of opportunities.
• Undertaking community service initiatives that will prove attractive, helpful and sustainable
• Involving the parents of these youth more fully in the life and activities of Heritage Presbyterian Church and make the church excitingly attractive to other families and children.

North Presbyterian Church-$4,500
Presbytery of the Western Reserve

Our vision is to build up a congregation that is in ministry to homeless and other marginalized people, by homeless and marginalized people who are the members and participants at North Presbyterian Church. We are seeking to develop leadership from these groups of people who worship with us regularly. We are requesting funding for the further development of our choir, which is made up of homeless and recently homeless persons, persons struggling with mental illness and addiction, or recently so. We are also requesting funds for a book/discussion group focusing on issues that contribute to homelessness and marginalization.

Hoge Memorial Presbyterian Church-$4,500
      Scioto Valley Presbytery

Funding for this project will helps Hoge's ministry and outreach programs:

• Food Pantry which is open the last 2 weeks of each month and recently expanded it area
• HMG3: Hoge Music, Message and Meal: an alternative worship experience offered every Saturday night at Hoge
• Vacation Bible School and Peace School
• Center for Reconciliation and Mediation: Mediators will be available for appointments with parties in conflict.

Performing Arts Ministry-$4,500
Calvary Presbyterian Church, Presbytery of the Western Reserve

The goal of this project is to provide:

1. A positive school year program, for a 9-month period, for youth in grades kindergarten to 12th grade.
2. Part time employment for 5 people that are a diverse group of ages, races, and backgrounds all trained in the performing arts.
3. To bring more children, youth and young adults, into the life of the church, that are both existing Calvary families and families in the community and surrounding neighborhoods. 

Hearts, Minds & Hands-$1,000
Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Maumee Valley Presbytery

The purpose of this project is to engage and support children's interest in the arts at the time of budget cuts and to create a bridge between the congregation and the community, to open doors of the church and thus help its transformation towards a missional community of faith. It is based on the belief that creativity is a gift given by God to all people and that imagination is always an important part of Christian faith. 

Mingo Youth Camp-$1,000
Native American Congregation "Church of Great Peace", Maumee Valley Presbytery

Our request is for additional funding to enable our small church and native community to continue to provide a Christian, native camp on behalf of native children. Our camp generally serves at least 45 children each summer. 

The awards were announced on November 4, 2011.